Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters: Paul Schrader's Gorgeous Biopic Makes Its 4K Debut (Criterion 4K/Blu-ray)

The Film:

Writer/director Paul Schrader may not be a household name to most (at least to those that aren't film buffs), but even if you're not familiar with him, there's a very strong chance that you are familiar with some of the films he's worked on. With writing credits that have included such classics as "Taxi Driver," "Raging Bull," and "The Last Temptation of Christ," he's had a long, incredibly successful career that's spanned over 50 years, one that's earned him many accolades along the way.

One of his projects that was very well received, but doesn't usually get talked about nearly as much is the 1985 biopic "Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters," a film that looks to explore the life & work of famed Japanese author Yukio Mishima. To celebrate its 40th anniversary this year, Criterion is giving the film its prestigious 4K upgrade, once again making it the perfect time to delve into another classic to see how well it stands up several decades later.

As the film opens, we see Mishima (Ken Ogata) preparing to execute a plan with some of his soldiers that will have them taking a general hostage and Mishima making a speech to the assembled army. While the team is on route, we continually flash back to different periods of Mishima's life, including when he was a sickly young boy, a training-obsessed adult, and when he formed his own army in hopes of reinstating the emperor. These episodes are mixed with adaptations of three of his works ("The House of the Golden Pavilion," "Kyoko's House," and "Runaway Horses"), all of which have parallels to the events of his life. As all of this is weaved together, a portrait of the man is formed, eventually culminating in the execution of his desperate plan for change.

"Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters" is a fascinating mix of fact & fiction, blended together in such a way so that the parallels between the author's life and the stories he told are unmistakable. As indicated, the film is divided into four sections (Beauty, Art, Action, and Harmony of Pen and Sword) that reflect the chapters of Mishima's life and the events that sculpted him into one of Japan's most beloved writers. All of this culminates in a desperate, extremist act that he hoped would bring about the change he desired, only to have his plea utterly rejected, marking what would ultimately be the last day of his life.

As far as these different segments of his life go, some are certainly more intriguing than others. Mishima's revolutionary period is by far the most engrossing, showing us the lengths to which he & his soldiers will go to try and bring about change with their quest to reinstate the emperor. On the flip side of that, the portion that has to do with his obsession with physicality/body-building could've used a little more work in terms of expressing its significance to his life, its impact, and how it made him into the man of his later years. Likewise, the literary adaptation for this segment ("Kyoko's House") is not quite as engrossing as the rest and doesn't do much in the way of showing its significance to the overall story.

Aside from that, his childhood experiences & the remaining adaptations of his work are done rather well, giving us a taste of the difficulties of his youth & his admiration of beauty, and eventually delving into his captivating revolutionary period. All of it comes together to form a gorgeous telling of this man's incredible life, punctuated with stunning production design and beautiful cinematography, elements that provide quite the visual feast as its story unfolds. Some chapters may not leave as big an impact as others, but there's no denying that "Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters" is a rather compelling work that stands as a wonderful accomplishment in Paul Schrader's incredible career.

Video/Audio:

This edition includes the film on both 4K (2160p, UHD) and Blu-ray (1080p, HD) in 1.85:1 transfers of outstanding quality. The 4K digital restoration, supervised & approved by director Paul Schrader and DP John Bailey, looks absolutely gorgeous throughout its two-hour duration, highlighting the film's beautiful production design & cinematography. Likewise, the 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack is marvelous, giving you all of the dialogue, sound effects, and music in excellent quality. Overall, Criterion has done an exquisite job in both areas for the film's new upgrade.

Special Features:

Commentary with Director Paul Schrader and Producer Alan Poul

Making Mishima (44 Minutes)

Producing Mishima (22 Minutes)

Chieko Schrader (26 Minutes)

John Nathan and Donald Richie (27 Minutes)

Mishima on Mishima (6 Minutes)

The Strange Case of Yukio Mishima (55 Minutes)

This new release imports all of the excellent extras from the previous edition, which includes a commentary track, as well as three hours of featurettes about the making of the film and about Mishima himself. Lots of fantastic material here for fans of the film to delve into if they're looking to learn more about it and its subject.

Conclusion:

Paul Schrader's "Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters" combines segments of the beloved author's life with adaptations of his work to create a beautiful portrait of a fascinating individual obsessed with beauty, physicality, and change. With its incredible production design & gorgeous cinematography, it makes for a stunning visual feast that is ultimately one of the director's most notable works.

Score: 3.5/5

Now available on Criterion 4K/Blu-ray.

Follow me on Twitter @BeckFilmCritic.